Russia to install naval bases in two occupied Ukrainian cities

Putin removes "restrictions" on funds for the Armed Forces

MADRID, 21 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Russian government has announced plans to establish naval bases in the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Berdiansk, with the aim of improving a deployment to which Russian President Vladimir Putin has guaranteed unlimited financial support on Wednesday.

Putin has said in the presence of the main heads of the Armed Forces that there will be no "financing restrictions". The Government will give "everything the Army asks for" at a time of special demand due to the prolongation of the offensive launched in February on neighboring Ukraine.

In fact, Putin has proposed providing all Army units with drones, not only as a method of attack but also to gather intelligence information, according to the Interfax news agency. He sees it feasible that "in the very near future" all the military will be able to have information in real time that could be vital.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who also participated in the meeting, confirmed the Russian intention to deploy support ships in Berdyansk and Mariupol, two towns on the Azov Sea currently controlled by Russian forces.

The ports of both cities, he has assured, are "fully operational", so they can serve as a base for support, rescue or repair vessels. Moscow works with the premise that the Azov is now "an inland sea of ​​Russia", after the disputed annexation of four regions of Ukraine.

Putin, who this week acknowledged the "difficult" situation on the combat front in eastern Ukraine, has advocated this Wednesday for improving the chain of command, while Shoigu has acknowledged that the partial mobilization to reinforce the Armed Forces did not start like Moscow I would have wished

The head of Defense has admitted that the system was not "adapted" to the current circumstances, which led to "difficulties" in matters such as notifying citizens called up.

However, he has affirmed that the recruitment was finally completed "in a timely manner", with a total of 300,000 citizens summoned. The Government estimates that more than 20,000 people voluntarily joined the Armed Forces.